Transforming Fiber into Art at Kenai Art Center

The Kenai Art Center features an exhibit celebrating fiber art, showcasing over 50 pieces created by around 30 artists, including quilts, rugs, and handbags. The exhibit challenges the notion of fiber as purely functional, highlighting how it can be transformed into expressive artwork. The exhibit is open until February, with an opening reception on Friday featuring artist talks.

Wrapped in cozy sweaters and scarves, visitors to the Kenai Art Center are surrounded by an array of fiber art, showcasing over 50 unique pieces. This month’s exhibit pays homage to the versatility of fiber, transforming everyday textiles into stunning artworks like quilts, rugs, and handbags. “So many of us think of fiber as a utilitarian thing, like for clothing or towels,” said Charlotte Coots, the center’s executive director. “But it can be used for the most creative, expressive art form.”

Around 30 artists contributed to this month’s showing, including Tracey Bunts from Sterling. Her trio of works features a quilted rug, a hand-woven scarf, and an innovative wool painting. The wool painting evokes a serene scene from Tern Lake, captured just before the snowfall, revealing autumn’s last fish. “Usually there’s swans, but this time I actually put in fish that were kind of at the end of their life there in the fall time,” shared Bunts, who has been quilting for years but is excited for her first show.

Marali Sargent-Smith, with her background in traditional painting, has embraced fiber art over the past few years, showcasing two large, framed quilts. Each piece immerses the viewer in vibrant depictions of outdoor landscapes; one quilt features embroidered details of her garden’s lush colors. “I get a great deal of pleasure and enjoyment out of growing plants all winter long,” she expressed, reflecting on the nine months of labor invested.

Sargent-Smith’s quilted contributions mark her first exploration into fiber art within an exhibition. “Pieces that we have, that we use for utilitarian, can be turned into beautiful works of art,” she said. Coots added, “If more people thought about using fiber, I think we’d find more people feeling artistic. Not everybody has oil paints and easels, but we all have fiber sitting around, even if it’s just out in our backyards.”

The Kenai Art Center’s fiber art exhibit runs through February, inviting the community to engage with this imaginative medium. The opening reception includes artist talks and takes place this Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Kenai Art Center’s fiber exhibit not only highlights the artistic potential of fiber but also encourages community participation. Artists like Tracey Bunts and Marali Sargent-Smith are redefining the concept of fiber beyond mere utility to creative expression. The exhibit serves as a testament to the universality of art, reminding everyone of the beauty inherent in everyday materials. Visitors can experience this unique artistic journey through February, starting with the opening reception this Friday.

Original Source: www.kdll.org